Thursday, August 7, 2014

Owl photos and update on dentist

First of all, here are a few of the owl photos from Saturday night. Awesome and cute. One is a round-faced owl. I had never heard of them before. The round-faced owl is snuggling into the arm of his handler.

Then when we were looking through all the photos, we came across one of Marshall saluting with the eagle on his shoulder (but our photo had the eagle's handler in the picture). So we imposed on the guy who photoshopped the prior eagle photo and he not only photoshopped the handler out of the photo again, but he put the US flag in the background. This is one heck of a picture.

Yesterday we went to the dentist here at the University hospital and spent several hours fine tuning the dentures. When Dr. Dhawan was done, Marshall had a set of upper dentures that no longer give him any pain. I tell you, this Dr. Dhawan is an artist. It was so interesting to watch him work. And he has a great sense of humor and keeps us laughing -- even when Marshall comes in all down in the dumps!

We have to go back again next Wednesday to be sure everything is still going well and then we will be finished with the dentist.

Tomorrow we see the dermatologist. Today we will just relax in our hotel room.

We got a call from our housesitter that our new little kitten, Jerry, has decided he wants the run of the house and is now climbing the barrier we had put up between the bedroom (where we had him all set up) and the rest of the house. And no wars broke out between him and our dogs or him and Gina's two dogs. However, our other cat, Okie, is not at all happy with this situation. He is hissing a lot and not eating much. Hopefully in the next few weeks they will become friends.

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Marshall's Story (condensed)

On 3/14/12 went to emergency room with severe chest pain (turned out to be bone pain)3/17/12 diagnosed with Stage IV Prostate Cancer (metastasized to the bones), PSA was 493/29/12 Biopsy confirmed advanced cancer, with a Gleason Score of 8, PSA had risen to 953/29/12 Received a double injection of Firmagon hormone therapy (very painful!)Early April 2012, within less than a week, bone pain subsided, and he was out of bed!!4/30/12, PSA had gone down to 9! Hormone therapy changed from Firmagon to Lupron (a 3-month injection) Side effects: fatigue & hot flashes6/11/12, PSA now down to 3.9! Considering a clinical trial.6/19/12, decided against the clinical trial.7/10/12, lab work done at request of VA regarding Agent Orange claim.7/12/12, evaluation by a private doctor at request of VA.7/26/12, visit to oncologist. PSA remains at 3.9!!! Very good news. Bone strengthener postponed for 6 weeks. Next appointment 9/13/12.8/6/12, VA approved Agent Orange-prostate cancer benefits; Marshall is now considered 100% disabled. This decision will be reviewed again in six months.9/4/12, passed out, chest pain, pale, sweating, clammy, rushed to hospital by Flight for Life. Doctors were unable to find a cause, but it wasn't cancer related. Left the hospital 9/6/12.9/13/12, PSA went up to 6.6 ... depressing. CT scan, bone scan and another PSA test scheduled for 10/11/12.10/11/12, Bone scan showed no change from prior bone scan; CT scan showed slight increase in "activity"; PSA up to 10.01. Casodex is started as well as megadoses of Vitamin D2.10/18/12, Excruciating back pain, thought it was a Casodex side effect; oncologist says it is not SE. Went to clinic, got x-rays of spine, showed nothing, maybe hairline fracture, got injection of "aspirin" and started feeling better.

10/25/12, Lupron injection; Xgeva injection; flu shot. SE from Lupron was pain at injection site for several days.

1/28/13, went to emergency room with excruciating pain in right leg; no blood clot, no hairline fracture, no sciatica. Advised that fracture was imminent and to get wheelchair.

2/7/13, saw oncologist to get tests after emergency room visit. They do not agree that fracture is imminent and thought pain may be caused by withdrawal of Casodex. We go back on 3/1 for PSA test and discussion of clinical study of GTX (estrogen therapy) added to the treatment plan.

3/1/13, saw oncologist; PSA almost tripled to 31.06; started process to participate in clinical study for GTX-758.

3/4/13, not accepted in clinical study, bloodwork showed "low threshold" for clotting; will start Zytiga & prednisone on 3/12/13, started Zytiga with Prednisone;

3/17/13, FIRST PAIN FREE DAY IN MONTHS!

4/7/13, STILL PAIN FREE

4/8/13, visit to hospital for lab work; all good; PSA DOWN TO 10.23!!

4/22/13, visit to hospital for lab work; all good. Received Lupron shot. Xgeva will be stopped until calcium levels go up. STILL PAIN FREE.

5/8/13, lab work; all good. PSA down to 5.1. Got Xgeva shot.

6/12/13, lab work; PSA down to 1.45. Dehydrated, hemoglobin low. Need to come back in a week to re-check kidney function.

About Me

My husband and I retired in 2007 and moved to the mountains of Westcliffe, Colorado, to enjoy our "golden years." Now my husband has died of prostate cancer and I have been diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation, Parkinson's, and had a pacemaker implanted. We never know what each day will bring.